Poll

NEW PRESIDENT FOR THE PLANNING OFFICERS SOCIETY

Date: 10/7/2008

Broadland's Strategic Director and Chief Planner, Phil Kirby has become the new President of the Planning Officers Society. He was elected at a meeting of the Society held in Westminster on 9 th July 2008.

On being elected, Phil stated that it was his aim for the year to build upon the high regard in which the Society is held as the credible voice of local government planning. 'With at least 7 major bills going through Parliament, in which our members have an interest, and with the creation of 9 new local planning authorities within the next 12 months, it’s likely to be an eventful year. Society members must continue to rise to the challenges being placed upon us, and fully engage through our activities in providing practical advice and guidance through this constant period of change.'

Phil has spent much of his career in planning, which began in Hertsmere, followed by Oadby and Wigston, and Shepway. Continuing his career in authorities, the geographical location of which is not instantly recognisable by their name, he joined Broadland District Council as its new Director of Development in 1996, which with various title changes, sees him heading up primarily the outward facing services of the Council.

Phil graduated from Coventry Lanchester Polytechnic with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Phil was Vice-Chairman of the Planning Officers Society Development Management Committee from 1998 to 2007, and is currently the Society Cabinet representative for the Committee. He took up the position of Senior Vice President in May 2007 and has been very involved in the proposed changes to the development management process and governance issues integrated with the rest of the Society's work.